Mars face illusion: Perseverance rover captures uncanny rock
An extraordinary object was found in the sand on Mars. Upon closer observation, it resembles a "human face." What is it?
NASA's Perseverance rover discovered an object on Mars that looks like a sunburnt human face. The photo, taken in September, shows a sandy formation with distinct features such as a large eyebrow arch, nostrils, and a tilted mouth. Although it may give the impression of the remains of a decapitated head, in reality, it is a rock.
As reported by "The Sun," experts suggest that this unusual formation is another piece of sedimentary sandstone, a remnant of the planet's water-rich past.
Unusual rock on Mars
The shape of the rock indicates that it was subjected to water erosion when rivers flowed on the surface of Mars about 3.8 billion years ago. This phenomenon, which has sparked controversy and interest, can be described as pareidolia—the psychological phenomenon of seeing human facial features in inanimate or lifeless objects.
It is worth remembering that in 1976, a similar phenomenon led to the famous photo known as the "Face on Mars," captured by the American Viking 1 orbiter. At that time, NASA issued a statement noting that one of the Martian formations in the Cydonia region "resembles a human head."
It turned out to be just an optical illusion caused by the way sunlight shines on formations, creating shadows resembling eyes and a mouth. This phenomenon shows how easily our minds can interpret random shapes in a way that seems familiar, leading to speculation about extraterrestrial life.
